Tuesday, October 01, 2002

Partners for Substance Abuse Prevention
Farra Trompeter of SAMHSA called our attention to this updated site (sponsored by CSAP and SAMHSA) whose goal is "decreasing substance abuse by bringing effective prevention to every community, the site provides a virtual meeting place for all organizations that want to become involved in a substance abuse prevention effort or want to expand their current substance abuse prevention activities."  
  

When Must Banks Protect Health Data?
Health Data Management story - "Health care providers enter a variety of funding arrangements with financial institutions, and it is not always clear under the HIPAA privacy rule when these arrangements require a business associate contract to protect identifiable health information."  
  

HIPAA Privacy Regulations Will Require Changes
Alcoholism & Drug Abuse Weekly article at Medscape - "With the release of final rules by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) governing the privacy of medical records (see ADAW, Aug. 19), as required by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), addiction treatment providers will have to alter their practices regarding medical records and reconcile the differences between the HIPAA regulations and the existing federal confidentiality regulations that apply to addiction treatment." [Viewing Medscape resources requires registration, which is free].  
  

Pro and Con Views on Psychostimulant Use in Children Presented to Congress
Reuters Health story at Medscape on testimony last week over the widespread prescribing of stimulants to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. {Viewing Medscape resources requires registration, which is free].  
  

Magellan unable to refinance bank debt
Baltimore Sun story - "Magellan Health Services Inc. officials said yesterday that the company had not secured refinancing of its bank debt and warned that it would not have the funds if early repayment is demanded. They also said it might not have the funds to continue operating if that were to happen."  
  

Results mixed for county's care plans (Ohio)
Cincinnati Business Courier story - "Two experiments in managed care, costing $150 million, have proved hard lessons for Hamilton County's Department of Job and Family Services. Deals struck four and five years ago, respectively, with Creative Connections and Magellan Public Health Solutions were part of the county's plan to reduce costs while providing more coordinated care for more than 18,600 children and their families who are referred to the system. But those agreements are ending, causing people to question whether the expense is improving outcomes in mental health, abuse and addiction services."